Denbighshire

Work life changed for many in Denbighshire in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Denbighshire increased by 0.7%, from just under 93,100 to 93,700.

The addition of just under 700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Denbighshire was home to, on average, 0.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Denbighshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Denbighshire increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a slightly higher average age than Carmarthenshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Denbighshire based on ONS area classifications) (44 years of age) and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 14% of people in Denbighshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Denbighshire fell from 26% to 25% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 1,304 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 1,746.

In Flintshire (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Denbighshire), 13% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 14% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Denbighshire saw Wales' largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Denbighshire said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.9% to 3.0%.

Caerphilly saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people working long hours (from 9.9% to 7.8%).

Long hour working in Denbighshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wales that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

Across Wales, the proportion of married people fell from 52% to 47% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in nearby Flintshire fell from 55% to 50%.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 and over in Denbighshire said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 30%.

Powys saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of married people (from 55% to 51%).

The proportion of married people was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

Denbighshire saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Denbighshire overtook Pembrokeshire and Swansea to become the Wales local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 18 (5.5%) in Denbighshire reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.4% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.9%.

Neath Port Talbot saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 6.2% to 7.1%).

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households with children fell in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Isle of Anglesey.

During this period, Denbighshire fell below Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Isle of Anglesey to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-lowest percentage of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Denbighshire had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 62% to 63%.

Wales' largest increase in the proportion of households with children occurred in Wrexham (from 30% to 30%).

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Denbighshire saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

During this period, Denbighshire overtook Pembrokeshire and Swansea to become the Wales local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) in Denbighshire reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.9%.

Neath Port Talbot saw Wales' next largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care (from 4.2% to 4.8%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Denbighshire remained close to 3.6%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Ceredigion and Conwy.

During this period, Denbighshire overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of self-employed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) people aged 16 to 74 in Denbighshire said they were self-employed, compared with 9.8% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 47% to 48%.

Wales' largest decrease in the proportion of self-employed people occurred in Ceredigion (from 14% to 14%) followed by Conwy (from 11% to 11%).

The rate of self-employment was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Religion in Denbighshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Denbighshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 12,000 in 2001 to about 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Wales (from 19% to 32%).

The number of people in Denbighshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 72,000 in 2001 to just over 60,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 7,400 to about 7,200 (from 8.0% to 7.7%).

About 470 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from about 240 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Denbighshire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Denbighshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in Denbighshire from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 92,000 in 2001 to just over 91,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 99% to 97% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Wales (from 98% to 96%).

The number of people in Denbighshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 450 in 2001 to about 1,400 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 430 to about 750 (from 0.5% to 0.8%).

Just over 160 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 110 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Denbighshire decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Denbighshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Denbighshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to nearby Flintshire (which remained close 5.7%). Across Wales, the proportion fell from 12% to 7.6%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Denbighshire decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wales said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than across Wales.

In Denbighshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 14%.

Across Wales, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Denbighshire remained close to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 69%.

Private renting in Denbighshire increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links